Apparatus for drying sand and the like.



A A. BRATTON.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING SAND AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l6.1913. 1,224,132. Patented May1,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

ATTORNEY.

A. A. BRATTON. APPARATUS FOR DRYING SAND AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16 1913- I: 1,224,132. Patented May 1, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q mum Em %.N QWII QMJ .QN w RN a Q A k A L 1|- .1 Q -i w aw nw u mm mw w m AM/ MAM kfi A J fig Q HW MN M TE \RW NM Ex NN UF N ,fi fi ww a m Nk ww $.34 L

WITNESSES ATTORNEY.

A. A. BRATTON.

Patented May 1,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

AMBROSE A. BRATTON, OF MCVEYTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. AssIG'Noa' o PENNSYL- VAN IA GLASS SAND COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LEwrs'r'owN; PENNSYLVANIA, a CO P RATI N APPARATUS FOR DRYING SAND AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. ted Maya; 1917.

Application filed July 16, 1913. Serial No. 779,247.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMBROSE A. BRATTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at McVeytown, Mifliin county, Pennsylvanla, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Sand and the like, of which the following 1s a full, clear, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a kiln for drying sand and the like, of novel, simple and eflicient construct on, having provision, first, whereby the drylng chamber may be heated by a plurality of coils of steam pipes arranged and connected to distribute the heat in a horizontal plane more evenly than heretofore; and to distribute the heat vertically in a mannei' to effect the.

drying operation expeditiously, and, at the same time, permit the wet sand to readily feed downwardly by gravity between the pipes of superposed coils; secondly, whereby the element which supports the bottom of the quantity of Wet sand being dried may comprise a coil or coils of steam pipes spaced and arranged to support the sand while wet and permit it when dried to feed by gravity through the spaces between the pipes to the lower portion of the kiln which receives the-dried sand thereby dispensing with the screeri and its objectionable clogging, heretofore employed for this purpose, and increasing the efiiciency of the kiln; thirdly, whereby air and steam from the wet sand may be exhausted from the kiln throughout the space occupied by the wet sand; fourthly, whereby the quantlty of dried sand discharged from the kiln may be controlled; and, fifthly, whereby various novel operations may take place, all as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention. 7

Figure 1, is a front elevation of my improved kiln.

Fig. 2, is a transverse section through the kiln, on line 2-2 of Fig. 3, showing the pipe coils and connections in elevation.

Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section through the kiln, on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views, as seen from the bottom, of the different coils of steampipes, showing their. relation to each other: andtheir relation to the-side walls of the kiln, the sidewalls being shown in section.

Referring to thedrawings, l designates a chamber formed byoppositeside walls 5, a rear end wall 6, downwardly and inwardly converging bottom walls? and a central horizontal bottom wall 8. The-front end of the chamber 4 is partially closedby upper and lower vertical walls 9 and 10, respectively, and intermediate inclined plates 11, and the top of the chamber 4: is open, as shown.

The chamber 1 is divided into an upper drying compartment 12 and a lower compartment 13 for receiving the dried sand, by a horizontally-extending set 14 of coils of steam pipe, which is supported by horizontal rails 15 extending transversely through the chamber 4 and into and supported by the side walls 5. Vithin the drying compartment 12 and above each other and above the set of coils 14 .are five sets 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of horizontally-extending coils of steam pipe; and above the coils 20 is a single horizontally-extending coil of steam pipe 21. The coils 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 are supported by horizontal channel bars 22 which extend transversely through the drying compartment 12 and into and are supported by the side walls 5.

Each coil of steam pipe has an inlet opening in one end 23 thereof and an outlet opening 24in the other end thereof. The inlet openings at the ends 23 of the coils communicate with horizontal pipes 25 which in turn communicate with a vertical pipe 26 which is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of steam supply; and the outlet openings at the ends 24 of the coils are connected by pipes 27 to communicate with horizontal pipes 28 which in turn are connected to a vertical pipe 29 through which the steam may be exhausted from the coils. It will thus be seen that the pipes 25 and 26 form a steam admission header for the coils of pipe and that the pipes 27, 28 and 29 form a steam exhaust header for the coils of pipe. The pipes of the various coils extend horizontally and parallel to each other; and longitudinally through the chamber A from the rear wall 6 to and between and beyond the ture, as introduced to the kiln, will be heated inclined plates 11, the steam inlet and exhaust headers being located outwardly of the inclined plates 11.

The sand to be dried is dumped into the drying compartment 12 through the open top thereof and upon the hot coils of steam pipe therein. The wet or damp sand passes between and around the pipes of the coils within the drying compartment 12, and the sand fills or substantially fills the spaces between and around the pipes of the coils within the drying compartment 12. The sand is prevented from falling from the drying compartment 12 into the receiving compartment 13 until it has been properly dried, by the pipes of the set of coils 14 which are arranged close together enough for this purpose. I have found that pipes one and one quarter inches in diameter and arranged with one-quarter of an inch spaces between them employed in the coils of the set 14 give very ood results, although I do not limit myself to these particular dimensions, which may be varied within limits. The spaces between the coils 14 should not, however, be greater than five-sixteenths of an inch.

It will be observed that the pipes of the upper coils are larger in diameter than the pipes of the lower coils and that the diameters of the pipes of the intermediate coils vary, larger pipes being located above smaller pipes, as shown. It will also be observed that the spaces between the pipes of the upper coils are greater than the spaces between the pipes of the lower coils, and that the spaces between the pipes of the intermediate coils vary, the pipes having the larger spaces therebetween being located above the pipes having the smaller spaces therebetween. By these novel features I am enabled to obtain a maximum heating area of steam pipes I within the drying compartment 12, with a minimum area of obstructing surfaces for a the descending sand; that is to say, the sand,

containing the maximum amount of moisby the upper pipes 21 and will readily pass down between the same, due to the wide spaces between the pipes 21, and will be robbed of some of its moisture while passing the upper pipes-; and, upon meeting the next pipes 20, the sand, having been robbed of some -moisture, will just as readily pass through the spaces between the pipes 20, although the spaces between the pipes 20 are less than the spaces between the pipes 21, and the sand will be robbed of more of its moisture in passing the pipes 20, and so on, down through the'drying compartment, the sand will pass the diii'erent coils of steam pipe until it is completely dried, when it will pass by gravity through the spaces between the pipes of the set of coils 14 and into the receiving compartment 13.

It will be observed, by referring particued and arranged, generally, so that the pipes of vertically adjacent coils, located one over the other, will extend in opposite directions to each other from their inlet ends 23 to their outlet ends 24; and that the pipes of horizontally adjacent coils, located in the same horizontal plane with each other, will extend in the same direction from their inlet ends 23 to their outlet ends 24. This arrangement of the inlet and outlet ends of the coils of pipe enables me to thoroughly distribute the heat throughout the drying compartment 12 in a manner to expeditiously effect the drying operation hereinbefore described.

In order to draw air and therewith steam and vapor from the body of sand being dried, I provide the following: Arranged against the outer faces of the side walls 5 of the kiln are vertical channel bars 30 which communicate with the ends of the horizontal channel bars 22 through openings 31 in the walls 5. The upper ends of the channel bars 30 communicate with horizontal passageways 32 which are connected by pipes 33 and 34 to a suitable exhaust fan or blower 35, by means of which air may be exhausted from the drying compartment 12 through the connections just described. The channel bars 22 are open at their bottoms, and, as the sand descends around the same, passageways will be formed within and directly below the bars 22 and extending entirely across the drying compartment 12 and communicating with the vertical channels 30 through the openings 31. Thus air and steam will be drawn from the body ofsand throughout the interior thereof, while air may enter the body of sand through the spaces between the inclined plates 11 and through the open top of the kiln, during the drying operation.

The walls of the channel bars 30, directly opposite most of the openings 22, are -gfifovided with openings 36 which are normally closed by suitable plugs 37, whereby, after the plugs 37 are removed, suitable cleaning bars maybe run through the openings 36 and 31 and through the channel bars 22 to clear the openings 31 and passageways beneath the bars 22 of any sand that may lodge therein.

The channel bars 30 are held in place and the opposite walls 5 are tied together by tie rods 38 which extend beneath the uppermost and lowermost channel bars 22 and have suitableheads on the ends thereof engaging the outerdjaces of the channel bars 30.

To remove the dried sand from the compartment 13 into which it falls, I provide the following: The horizontal bottom wall 8 is provided with spaced discharge openings 39, and locatedbelow the wall 8 a pair of slide bars 40 arranged end to end and hav ing openings 41 therein adapted to come into registry with the openings 39 when the bars 40 are drawn outwardly at each end of the kiln, to permit sand to fall from the compartment 13 through the openings 39 and 41. From this construction it will be readily understood that the feed of the sand from the compartment 13 may be nicely regulated or entirely cut off by adjusting the bars 40. The sand falls from the openings 41 upon an endless conveyer belt 42 arranged beneath the openings 41 and longitudinally of the kiln. The belt 42 passes around suitable mounted pulleys 43 and is supported at intervals between the pulleys 43 by suitably mounted rollers 44. One of the pulleys 43 may be driven by any suitable means and by any suitable power, so that, as the sand falls upon the belt 42 it will be conveyed thereon to one end of the kiln or to any suitable point of discharge.

The inclined plate 45 provided at the rearwardend of the chamber 4 is to prevent the steam to and exhausting it from said coils,

means extending through the interior of said chamber and through the walls thereof adapted to discharge moist air from said chamber, the lowermost set of coils constituting a screen for dried sand, and a receiving and discharging compartment for dried sand below said tubular screen.

2. In a kiln of the class recited, walls forming a drying chamber having a passageway leading from the interior of the chamber to the exterior thereof, a plurality of coils of pipe within the chamber and arranged one above the other, the pipes of each coil being substantially in a horizontal plane, each coil having an inlet opening at one end thereof and an outlet opening at the other end thereof, the pipes of vertically adjacent coils extending in opposite directions to each other from their inlet openings to their outlet opening, a steam supply pipe communicating with the inlet openings of the coils, and a steam exhaust pipe communicating with the outlet openings of the coils.

3. In a kiln of the class recited, walls forming a drying chamber having a passageway leading from the interior of the chamber to the exterior thereof, a plurality cating with the inlet openings of the coils,

and a steam exhaust pipe c mmunicating with the outlet openings of the coils.

4. In a kiln of the class 1".cit0(l,\\2lllf5 forming a drying chamber having a pass-ageing; leading from the interior of the chamber to the exterior thereof, a plurality of sets of coils arranged one above the other, the pipes of the coils of each set being substantially in a horizontal plane, each coil having an inlet opening at one end thereof and an outlet opening at the other end thereof, the pipes of laterally adjacent coils extending in the same direction from their inlet openings to their outlet openings, a steam supply pipe having a separate connection with the inlet opening of each coil, and a steam exhaust pipe communicating with the outlet openings of the coils.

5. In a kiln of the class recited, walls forming a drying chamber having a passageway leading from the interior of the chamber to the exterior thereof, a plurality of sets of coils arranged one above the other, the pipes of the coils of each set being substantially in a horizontal plane, each coil having an inlet opening at one end thereof and an outlet opening at the other end thereof, the pipes of vertically adjacent coils extending in opposite directions to each other from their inlet openings to their outlet openings, the pipes of laterally adjacent coils extending in the same direction from their inlet openings to their outlet openings, a steam supply pipe communicating with the inlet openings of the coils, and a steam exhaust pipe communicating with the outlet openings of the coils.

6. In a kiln of the class recited, walls forming a drying chamber having an ope-1 I portion, a plurality of coils of pipe within the chamber and arranged one above the other, downwardly and inwardly inclined plates arranged between said coils and partially closing said open portion and providing air inlet passageways between the plates i and communicating with the interior of the chamber, means for introducing steam to and exhausting it from"; said coils, and mean; for exhausting air from said chm. ler

7. In a kiln oi": the class ief-ited v wall; forming a drying ommber. a plurality f coils of pipe \Wtlllfl said, (,hilul tal' and ar ranged one above the cther, inea for in troducing steam to and exhaustin i" 'lfii lll said coils, channel. bars ey endi tig ='hrough said chamber between said coils and having open bottoms, vertical channel bars arranged against the outer faces of opposite walls of said chamber and forming air passageways, tie rods extending through said chamber and said walls and connected to said vertical channel bars, the first named channel bars extending through said opposite walls and forming passageways communicatin with the vertical channel bars, and means or exhausting air from the vertical channel bars.

8. In a kiln of the class recited, walls forming a drying chamber,'a coil of pipe within said chamber, means for introducing steam to said coil, a channel bar extending through said chamber and having an open bottom, a vertical channel bar secured to a wall of said chamber and forming an air passageway communicating with the first named channel bar, the second named channel bar having an opening in the wall thereof in alinement with the opening in the first named channel bar, and a removable plug closing said opening.

9. In a kiln of the class recited, walls forming a drying chamber, means therein operating to progressively retard the descent, by gravity, of the wet sand through the drying chamber and thereby separating it into horizontal strata of varying degrees of dryness on its passage therethrough, said means comprising a series of horizontallydisposed coils of pipe of progressively decreasing diameter rom the upper to the lower coil in the series, a series of channel bars extending horizontally through said chamber, adjacent to said coils and having open bottoms, means forming an an passageway communicating with the aforesaid openings in said horizontal channel bars and leading to the exterior of the drying chamber, and means for exhausting moist air from said chamber through said channel bars and passageway.

10. In a kiln of the class recited, walls forming a drying chamber, a series of horizontally disposed coils of pipe, of progressively decreasing diameter, from the upper to the lower coil in the series, the lowermost coil of piping dividing said drying chamber into upper and lower compartments and operating to relatively retard the fall, by gravity, of the sand in the upper compartment to the lower compartment; perforated channel bars horizontally-disposed in the upper compartment and adapted to discharge moisture therethrough; a chute in the lower compartment, saidchute'terminating in a base having a series of spaced discharge openings therein, and a pair of slidably-supported bars having a series of discharge openings therein adapted to be moved into register in whole or in part with the first named discharge openings.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature this fourth day of July A. D. 1913.

AMBROSE A. BRATTON.

Witnesses:

'W. L. STEVENSON,

H. S. CONRAD. 

